EVANSTON, Ill. -- Another intense Big Ten men's soccer matchup ended with No. 20 Northwestern (8-3-5, 3-1-3) earning a 2-1 double overtime victory over the No. 18-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions (11-5-1, 5-4-0) Sunday in Evanston.
In the 108th minute, senior Nikko Boxall played a ball to freshman Elo Ozumba, who flicked it onto sophomore Mike Roberge. From there, Roberge maneuvered past two defenders and found himself all alone with the Nittany Lions goalkeeper, calmly blasting into the back of the net to set off a wild Senior Day celebration.
"I yelled to Elo, 'You gotta win this.' Then he beats his guy and is able to get the flick," Roberge said. "Then I kind of just got it, decided to go to goal. I'm not really sure how it got through, but it was able to squirt through two defenders. Then I just took a touch and hoped for the best."
This was Roberge's third goal in the last three Big Ten conference games for the `Cats. The victory today prevented the Nittany Lions from clinching the Big Ten regular season championship.
This clash of top-20 teams was the first home game in a month for the `Cats, who jumped out to an early lead just 14 minutes into the first half. Senior Eric Weberman had the honors, netting a left-footed blast into the right corner of the goal from 14 yards out after a quality build-up orchestrated by Cole Missimo and Jeffrey Hopson.
"It was Senior Day, Webby knows what time it is in terms of the time of year," Lenahan said. "He always come through clutch."
Penn State answered in the 37th minute when NU senior Peter Beasley was called for a foul inside the penalty box. Senior goalkeeper Tyler Miller made a heroic effort, stopping the PK with a dive to his right, then stopping the ensuing shot off the rebound. But on the third shot attempt, PSU's Mikey Minutillo put in the equalizer.
Northwestern created several scoring chances over the duration of the second, including an opportunity where Roberge got in behind the Nittany Lions back line and cracked a close-range shot over the crossbar. But he made the most of his chance in the second overtime, netting his third goal of 2014.
"If [Penn State] had drawn, they would have clinched a share of the Big Ten championship and they would have jumped around on our field, like they did last year when they beat us in overtime," Lenahan said. "They're a great team, there's a reason they are the two-time Big Ten champion, they can still be champion, but for sure it was a great day."
From here, the 'Cats will wrap up their regular season Wednesday at home against Wisconsin which, despite still being in search of their first Big Ten win this season, recently notched a draw against the reigning NCAA champion Indiana Hoosiers. Start time at Lakeside Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.
In the 108th minute, senior Nikko Boxall played a ball to freshman Elo Ozumba, who flicked it onto sophomore Mike Roberge. From there, Roberge maneuvered past two defenders and found himself all alone with the Nittany Lions goalkeeper, calmly blasting into the back of the net to set off a wild Senior Day celebration.
"I yelled to Elo, 'You gotta win this.' Then he beats his guy and is able to get the flick," Roberge said. "Then I kind of just got it, decided to go to goal. I'm not really sure how it got through, but it was able to squirt through two defenders. Then I just took a touch and hoped for the best."
This was Roberge's third goal in the last three Big Ten conference games for the `Cats. The victory today prevented the Nittany Lions from clinching the Big Ten regular season championship.
This clash of top-20 teams was the first home game in a month for the `Cats, who jumped out to an early lead just 14 minutes into the first half. Senior Eric Weberman had the honors, netting a left-footed blast into the right corner of the goal from 14 yards out after a quality build-up orchestrated by Cole Missimo and Jeffrey Hopson.
"It was Senior Day, Webby knows what time it is in terms of the time of year," Lenahan said. "He always come through clutch."
Penn State answered in the 37th minute when NU senior Peter Beasley was called for a foul inside the penalty box. Senior goalkeeper Tyler Miller made a heroic effort, stopping the PK with a dive to his right, then stopping the ensuing shot off the rebound. But on the third shot attempt, PSU's Mikey Minutillo put in the equalizer.
Northwestern created several scoring chances over the duration of the second, including an opportunity where Roberge got in behind the Nittany Lions back line and cracked a close-range shot over the crossbar. But he made the most of his chance in the second overtime, netting his third goal of 2014.
"If [Penn State] had drawn, they would have clinched a share of the Big Ten championship and they would have jumped around on our field, like they did last year when they beat us in overtime," Lenahan said. "They're a great team, there's a reason they are the two-time Big Ten champion, they can still be champion, but for sure it was a great day."
From here, the 'Cats will wrap up their regular season Wednesday at home against Wisconsin which, despite still being in search of their first Big Ten win this season, recently notched a draw against the reigning NCAA champion Indiana Hoosiers. Start time at Lakeside Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.